| PAU Department of Floriculture
and Landscaping, in collaboration with the Department of
Family Resource and Management, organized the annual flower
show dedicated to Dr MS Randhawa, a flower and landscape
enthusiast, an able administrator, an art connoisseur and
a scientist, who was the PAU Vice-Chancellor from 1968 to
1976.
The show was inaugurated by Vice-Chancellor Dr Manjit Singh
Kang. Dr Kang and other dignitaries paid tributes to Dr
Randhawa.
The books authored by Dr Randhawa were also displayed on
the occasion. These included Roop Lekha, Flowering Trees
in India, Flowering Trees, Beautiful Gardens, Chandigarh,
Beautifying Cities of India, Landscaping Chandigarh, Beautifying
India, Van Mahotsav (Hindi), Ghar Di Bagichi Te Shingar
Bute (Punjabi) etc.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Kang said that although floriculture
has been adopted by some farmers for commerce, yet the reflection
of nature through flowers cannot be ignored. He added that
Dr Randhawa had special fondness for roses and marigolds.
Dr Kang added that besides enhancing farm profitability,
floriculture helps to improve the environment, and creating
a beautiful ambience. He mentioned that some national agencies
like Punjab Agro Industry Corporation and APEDA are also
engaged in promotion of floriculture in the country. With
the technology developed by PAU, some farmers are growing
flowers under contract farming, and exporting them to countries
like USA, Netherlands, Germany and United Kingdom. Dr Kang
highlighted that flower seed production is undertaken in
Punjab over about 700 acres, earning foreign exchange of
over six crores of rupees.
Dr Ramesh Kumar Sadavarti, Head, Department of Floriculture
and Landscaping, said that the show will remain open on
February 28, in the examination hall of College of Agriculture.
He added that this year, there is enhanced enthusiasm among
the public, as more than 1,200 entries for the competition
have been received under three main categories. These are
cut flowers, fresh and dry arrangement of flowers, and foliage,
pot plants, cacti, succulents, bonsai, etc. He added that
competition for pot-plants of various types was also held
on the occasion.
Dr Sadavarti pointed out that the PAU flower show is becoming
popular among the students, faculty and staff not only of
constituent colleges of PAU, but also of the city schools
and colleges. He added that entries for the flower competition
have also been received from State Departments of Horticulture,
district headquarters etc.
A large number of students from city colleges and schools
were keen to have a word with Dr Kang. Flower arrangements
on diverse topics like national integration, ecstasy, pride
and passion, world peace, global warming, love and romance
etc. were displayed by the participants.
Amandeep, a student of Class VI of Guru Nanak Public School
was keen to show her creation entitled ‘Preserve Nature
on Earth’. Aafrin, Class IX student from the same
school, displayed a tastefully arranged floral set with
the title, ‘Good Personality is Always Surrounded
by Heaven’. ‘Beauty and beast’ were depicted
through scarlet carnations and white petals by Arshpreet
Kaur of Class VI in a local school.
Dr Kang appreciated the feelings of the children, and urged
them to study nature in their free time. A participant conveyed
his message through flowers with a title, ‘Save the
Girl Child’.
Another special feature of today’s show was ‘Gift
a Pot’ plants, that attracted people from all walks
of life. This is a new urban culture, in which people greet
their relatives and friends on auspicious days by presenting
lively potted plants, said Suneha, a city resident. The
show had competitions in the category of button-hole flowers,
garland-making, neckless and ear-ring making. There was
some entries of ‘sehra (veil)’ made of of fragrant
white tube rose florets.
Dr Milkha Singh Aulakh, Dean, College of Agriculture, also
appreciated the entries of the various participants.
According to Dr Sadavarti, more than 1,200 entries were
evaluated by a team of judges including an eminent landscapist
Surinder Pal Singh Dosanjh, Dr RL Mishra, Project Coordinator
ICAR, Dr JS Arora, Dr Brij Mohan Bhardwaj, SDO (PWD), Hari
Singh Sandhu, Dr Satish Narula, Dr Gursharan Dhillon and
Shivani.
The flower show was visited by University Director of Research
Dr PS Minhas, Director of Extension Education Dr NS Malhi,
Dean, College of Agriculture, Dr MS Aulakh, Dean, College
of Basic Sciences, Dr Tejwant Singh, Dean, College of Home
Science, Dr Neelam Grewal, Dean, College of Agricultural
Engineering, Dr PK Gupta, PAU Additional Director of Communication,
Dr Jagtar Singh Dhiman, Estate Officer-cum-Chief Engineer,
Prof VK Sehgal. The prize distribution function will be
held on February 28.
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